Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.
I'll be honest I have a rather silly reason to want a lens - I really want a heavy lens on my K-1 to have some heft and want to experience that heft while shooting images. I now have the DA 50 f/1.8 and it takes great images. I also have the 28-105mm kit lens which I got with the camera and that too is awesome. I was desperate for some reach when in a pinch so I got a very old 100-300mm lens from a Russian but its a very nice copy (0 autofocus creep even after many years), paint is nice and its well worn / used but smooth and functional. However, all these lenses are "light". The 28-105 is my heaviest lens and even that looks puny on my K-1. I want the big lenses, the heavy feel of operating one, and having that heft to hold.
Yes, I hear myself and its a very stupid reason. So obviously cannot spend any serious money on it - especially since I cannot afford any lenses from here in India, shipping alone jacks up the cost by $20-60 in a country where the monthly income is puny. Therefore, nicer glass like the DFA 24-70 f/2.8 are kind of out of question at the moment. Additionally, I incurred some personal expenses and definitely do not have money for quality new glass, even the 100 WR Macro.
So what are my options? Some other points :
1. I would not want a long range telephoto. Not only these cost a lot of money, my Nikon D5300 and 70-300 AF-P lens have okayish reach and insanely fast autofocus performance and tracking. Why fix what aint broke.
2. I would personally like a macro lens, or something in the 15-20mm focal length. These two needs are not met with my current lenses.
3. Image quality should be top notch - the affordability of lens should come from it being a good deal rather than IQ compromises. Being used to the 28-105 lens's quality, I would hate it if something produced dirty images.
4. The more situations the lenses is usable in, the better. I don't take much portraits unfortunately, so not looking for a portrait lens. But if it is portrait + macro then I'd love such a lens too.
Now with this very challenging set of criteria, I would love some recommendations from you experienced pentaxians on options (if any) that may exist!